Have you ever looked at your child’s phone and wondered, “what is that app?” Well parents you are not alone. With so many different apps out there it is hard to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest new thing. One type of app that is essential that parents stay informed on is hidden apps. You probably look through your child’s texts, Facebook posts, and other known social media apps, but did you know that there are apps that kids use to hide apps or pictures that they don’t want you to see? Here is a list of several different apps that people use to hide pictures that they don’t want you to see.

Private Photo Vault

Gallery Lock Lite

Best Secret Folder

KeepSafe

KYMS

Vaulty

PhotoVault

Secret Calculator Pro

Secret Photo and Video Calculator

This is only a short list of apps that can hide pictures, apps, or information that your teen wants to keep from you. Many of the apps disguise themselves to look like regular default apps like a calculator or utilities folder. Look for redundancy, like two calculators, or two utility tabs. There are settings that parents can enable to stop their child from downloading apps without a parent’s permission. Regularly check the app store to keep up-to-date on the latest hidden apps.

New apps come out every day, which makes it difficult to stay up to date on the latest and greatest new app. As a parent this is a frustrating reality, but you don’t have to stay in the dark. A website called SaferKid seeks to help parents to be able to quickly look up information about apps. The founders have reviewed more than 1,000,000 apps. All you need to do is enter the app you want to find out more information about into the search bar in the app directory, and you have access to age recommendations, risks, and in depth information about that app. This can help when you see a new app on your child’s phone and you don’t know what it does, or your child wants to download a new app.

The website also provides a service for $59.99 per year, where they scan your child’s phone apps to detect unapproved and non age appropriate apps.

How often do you actually take the time to read through the terms of service or privacy policy when you are downloading an app. Most likely not. App developers use complicated legal terms, and you probably start to get a headache after trying to read the first two pages. The problem is that we are giving away too much of our information without even realizing it. Business Insider did an experiment where they had people read aloud the permissions that they have given to some apps. It is truly scarey to see what permissions people are granting to apps. Click here to check out the video from Business Insider.

GameStation wanted to see if people actually read the Terms of Service, so they put a hidden clause in which stated that:

“By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and forever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamesation.co.uk or one of its duly authorized minions.”

Only 12% of gamers noticed the trick. Reading through those privacy policies may be tedious, but it is definitely worth it in the end.

As parents and school administrators it may seem impossible to keep up with all of the new apps kids and teens are using. Apps are constantly being changed and updated, and it’s hard to keep track of each app and what they are used for. Here is a list of apps kids and teens are using and what you as parents and school administrators need to know about them. It’s important to stay informed so you know how to help your kids and teens become responsible digital citizens while socializing through technology!

I have been doing assemblies for about 5 years now and I have learned that Communication is key. Your kids know a lot about the internet and you need to trust them and talk to them. This article says that, “The number one online safety tip for parents is to talk to your kids… ask them what’s their favorite app these days, tell them to show you how they set their privacy settings in the apps and on the devices.”

They give 5 Tips that I really like.

1. Understand their world

2. Show Respect

3. Talk

4. Catch Up

5. Be the Guiding Light

Kids are going to be on the internet learning good and bad. They can either talk to their friends about it, or you. You make the choice.